Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 21 January 2016: The 31st Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) officially kicked off today 21 January 2016, at the headquarters of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa in the presence of the AUC Deputy Chairperson, Mr. Erastus Mwencha, AU Commissioners representatives from AU Organs, the RECs and invited guests.

During the opening ceremony, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma expressed satisfaction to the existing good working relationship between the PRC and the Commission. She said this fruitful relationship will go a long way to ensuring “strong and effective institutions, towards our vision of an integrated prosperous and peaceful Africa that is driven by its own citizens and takes its rightful place in the world”. The AUC Chairperson began by wishing a prosperous, peaceful and healthy year 2016 to all the participants. She thanked the host of the AU Headquarters, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for the measures taken to ensure conducive working conditions for this Summit. She also lauded the efforts of the PRC and its subcommittees for their dedicated preparatory work over the last two months aimed at ensuring a successful and fruitful Summit. The AUC Chairperson particularly commended the Chairperson of the PRC, Ambassador Albert Chimbindi from the Republic of Zimbabwe, for so ably steering the PRC during his term of office, and for his excellent cooperation with the Commission. “We sincerely appreciate the dedication, wisdom and the spirit of Pan Africanism he brought to his leadership of the PRC”, she noted.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma highlighted some of the achievements of the Commission in 2015 including the progress made in the implementation of the AU Agenda 2063 and the process of domestication to ensure that the AU’s major priorities are taken into consideration. She said the AUC Annual report that will be presented during the Summit will underline all the areas of interest including the African skills revolution, health and nutrition; infrastructure that connects the continent, its citizens and that spur social and economic development; agriculture and agro processing; economic diversification, job creation and industrialization; peace, security and democratic governance . Flagship projects of the Agenda 2063 such as the Pan African Integrated High Speed Rail Network, the Continental Free Trade Area and Commodities Strategy, on Agriculture and Agro-businesses, on the African Economic Platform, Silencing the Guns, the Single African Aviation Market, on the Free Movement of People and the African Passport, will also be presented in the Commission’s report.

“During 2015 we ensured a renewed focus on the emancipation of girls and women, as a critical success factor, and indeed a precondition for the realization of Agenda 2063.... The issue of African integration, as the raison d’être of our Union remained high on our agenda and that of the Regional Economic Communities.” Underscored Dr. Dlamini Zuma. She explained that the majority of democratic transitions and elections on the continent, with some notable exceptions, went well and should be used as a platform to build inclusive and effective institutions that involve citizens in governance, not only during elections but as we implement Agenda 2063 in our national context. She added that, as we celebrate this year of Human Rights “we must continue to strengthen the culture of democracy, peace, security and human rights, of political tolerance, inclusion and the management of the rich diversity of our beautiful continent...., we should also continue to build a Union of the People, working with civil society, the private sector, the Diaspora, the African citizens, women and youth, and the media in the implementation of Agenda 2063”.

The AUC Chairperson called for a minute of silence, in memory of the soldiers who died while exercising their duties in peace keeping mission of the AU. While wishing a successful deliberation to the PRC meeting, Dr. Dlamini Zuma reaffirmed the commitment of the AU Commission to work with the PRC, the RECs and all AU Organs during 2016, “to build our Union and towards a better life for all Africans”, she concluded. (See complete speech of the Chairperson of the AUC on the AU Website: www.au.int ).

H.E. Ambassador Albert R. Chimbindi, Chairperson of the PRC, expressed his appreciation to the AUC for the excellent facilities provided to enable the participants effectively contribute in the PRC meeting through the new E-Conferencing System put in place to facilitate the work of the policy making organs of the AU during this Summit. “This should inspire us and also transform the way we do business.” The PRC Chair further applaud the efforts of the members of the PRC and members of the PRC Bureau for their excellent accomplished and their cooperation throughout the preparatory process ahead of the 26th AU Summit.

Ambassador Chimbindi called upon all the PRC members to be concise but also to be comprehensive and clear when taking decisions and recommendations on the various reports so as to facilitate the work of the policy organs. (See complete speech of the Chairperson of the PRC on the AU Website: www.au.int ).

The 31st Ordinary Session of the PRC ends on 23 January 2016 with the adoption of their report to be submitted to the 28th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council scheduled to hold on 27 and 28 January 2016.

BM/HB/HE/ EAT

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Esther Azaa Tankou, Ag. Director of Information and Communication, African Union Commission (AUC)/ Tel: +251(0) 911361185 / E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org

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Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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